Are you a journey person or a destination person? 

When we take a road trip, my wife likes to stop at every interesting or weird roadside attraction. For her, it’s all about the journey. On the other hand, I’m a destination person. The vehicle and road are merely the means to an end. Being there is more important than getting there.

Good things take time, but our human nature is to ask, “How long?” Or “Are we there yet?”

The prophecy of Habakkuk is more than 2,600 years old, yet the prophet spoke for all of us when he asked God, “How long, O Lord, will I call for help, and You will not hear?” (Habakkuk 1:2) We might add to Habakkuk’s question, “When will this be over?”

The global pandemic has made all of us ‘destination’ people. We just want to get to the end of this so we can move on. I’m right there with you.

And yet, we can become so focused on the end we miss what God is teaching us on the journey. Because of the pandemic, I’ve become good friends with my neighbors. I’ve learned new ways to work and even worship. And when I contracted COVID-19 in November, I gained a new appreciation for rest.

God had a ready answer for Habakkuk’s question.

“Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days – you would not believe if you were told.” (Habakkuk 1:5) 

Those are incredible words of hope for Judah and for us. But we first have to “look” and “observe” in order to see what God is doing. The baseball great Yogi Berra was close when he said, “You can observe a lot by watching.” 

So, while we drive toward the destination of ending COVID-19, let’s look and observe along the way so we don’t miss what God is doing. Who knows? We might be astonished.

Written by Scott Collins, vice president of communications for Buckner International.